Noemi Cantele signs for new BePink team

Garmin-Cervélo exodus continues as Italian champion is the second rider to find a new team

Noemi Cantele has signed with BePink, the team has announced, making the Italian road and time trial champion the second rider to officially leave the troubled women’s Garmin-Cervélo team. The new Italian team, created by experience women’s team manager Walter Zini, is made up of a number of riders from Gauss, Top Girls-Fassa Bortolo and Diadora-Pasta Zara, but Cantele will be the team’s biggest star.

With the team problems at Garmin-Cervélo, Cantele is understandably happy to have found a new team so quickly; particularly with the road race at London 2012 so close.

"For me, 2012, is a really important year, my focus is directed at the Olympic Games in London, which is my first real goal of the season,” she said.

“After over many years in foreign teams, to return to defend the colours of an Italian formation – with the tricolore jersey – is a great satisfaction,” explained the Italian champion. “I immediately understood that the development project at BePink is interesting and innovative, as it points to the all round professional growth of athletes. Next to technical preparation there is indeed a great attention to the development of techniques of mental coaching with the aim of supporting the development of talent and potential.

“Also, I’ve known Walter Zini for many years,” Cantele added. “I know how he works and the professionalism with which he operates in maximum protection of athletes. I am sure that this is the best choice for me."

Cantele’s new teammates will include such experienced riders as former Russian champion Julia Martisova and double Italian championship medallist Silvia Valsecchi (pictured, right), but the team will also include a number of younger riders, to whom Cantele will be able to pass on her experience.

“Noemi is not only a great athlete, but is also a very intelligent and determined girl,” said Zini. “She knows how to prepare for the most important occasions, to find the motivation and the strength to make a difference.

“She’s a complete athlete,” he added, “who knows how to look after herself across multiple courses, with a rich background of experience, which she can share with our younger girls.”

Cantele is the second Gamin-Cervélo rider to have found a new team, after Iris Slappendel was confirmed as a member of the new Rabobank women’s team at its presentation yesterday. So far there has been no official confirmation about any of the other riders, although all four British riders – Lizzie Armitstead, Sharon Laws, Lucy Martin and Emma Pooley – have been in discussion with AA Drink-Leontien.nl.

“They are keen to take us four British girls but nothing is confirmed,” Martin told VeloUK.net.